Influence of enclosure condition and visitor numbers on behaviour of captive Malayan tapir
The population of Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) in the wild is experiencing a radical decline mainly due to habitat destruction throughout their regions. Often during in search for a new habitat, food or mating partner, tapirs are victimised to traffic accidents when the roads are cutting thro...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76729/1/FS%202018%2061%20-%20IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | The population of Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) in the wild is experiencing a radical
decline mainly due to habitat destruction throughout their regions. Often during in
search for a new habitat, food or mating partner, tapirs are victimised to traffic
accidents when the roads are cutting through their habitats. In Peninsular Malaysia, a
total of 68 tapirs death were recorded within five years since year 2012. Therefore, as
an initiative measure to sustain the population, ex-situ conservation was established.
However, the ability of captive management to maintain and breed endangered species
has been proved challenging. While many other wild animals under captivity showed
changes in their natural behaviours that resulted in stress, breeding difficulties, poor
health, and repetitive stereotypic behaviours, information on Malayan tapir is still
lacking. Hence, instantaneous sampling over 20 minutes period with an interval of 30
seconds was used to investigate the effects of enclosure type and size, weather
(temperature and humidity) and the number of visitors on a range of behaviours to
determine their role as potential stressors in male and female captive Malayan tapirs.
Analysing the data using generalised linear mixed-effects models and multiple
regression models, it was found that enclosure type had a significant effect on feeding
behaviour where tapirs in semi natural enclosures fed more frequently than tapirs in
artificial enclosure, mirroring natural feeding activity. Enclosure condition was also
found to increase the investigative behaviour and reduced the time spent on resting in
artificial enclosures. High visitor numbers overall lowered activity of tapirs, while low
humidity caused tapirs to suffer from dryness, and thus resulted in more frequent snout
licking as an indicative of thermal stress. In addition, increased number of visitors had
reduced the sexual interaction such as, initiation, antagonistic and vocalisation in both
male and female Malayan tapirs. Overall from this study, it is concluded that unsuitable
enclosure conditions of extreme dryness and number of visitors are prone to be
potential stressors that lower the activity pattern that possibly alter the natural
behaviours of Malayan tapir. Therefore, further evaluation on exhibit design and
management practices are encouraged to identify variables that could increase the
reproductive success and physical well-being of captive Malayan tapirs. |
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